~ Settled back in Jersey, heart still in Ireland….

Sharpening my pencil

It’s taken a while, but I feel my writing spirit stirring again. A couple of years have passed since my sixth and seventh books were published. And then I dang ran out of steam, or inspiration, or something. I’d completed my first try at writing a book and a subsequent follow-up (check), two Jersey historical novels (check), two Irish mysteries (check), and a collection of short stories.

And strangely I also lost interest in a few other things. I no longer coach athletics to the kids, I’m not much bothered about cheering on Jersey Rugby Club every weekend, my blogging is sporadic at best.

Last week was the Human Rights Festival put on by the local branch of Amnesty International. The three films I attended with (sadly) very few others, were thought-provoking and disturbing as one would expect. The first featured the issues of child brides/mothers and their adult children in Israel. Then we saw the fate of many juveniles in the Californian justice system who are sentenced as adults for their crimes. Finally the quite inspiring story of the Waziristan girl who grew up loving and playing squash. She was only able to do so by pretending to be a boy. At age 12 she and her family started to receive death threats from the Taliban for ‘insulting their culture’ so she had to stop playing. Finally she left the country to train in Canada. Maria Toorpakai Wazir is now world-ranked and high-profile, she and her family openly defying the continuing and constant threats.

And I remembered it was after the same Festival a few years ago that I tore into a novel about human trafficking. I got 22,000 words down in no time and got some very valuable critique from one or two people. But I wrote myself into a corner and I put it away. So I have a mind to pick it up again, start over, keep the bits that I think are good and re-write the rest.

A few of you will remember it as a bit of a challenge. I write first person through my young woman protagonist, and the story is set in Nepal and India where I’ve never been and am unlikely to visit. I’ll still need external guidance and affirmation. But also I can maybe find a role for Chantilly, my Aussie punk barmaid/student who is waiting in the wings!

All being well I ought to be on the way to a good first draft by the Spring.

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33 thoughts on “Sharpening my pencil”

Good for you, Roy – and good luck with your draft. Interests go in cycles I think…well, they do with me. I’m not writing much at the moment and when I do I’m annoyed that it’s such rubbish😆 and why did I bother anyway😆 so am getting stuck into my reading pile which is much more enjoyable!

Thanks Jenny. In my case I need to be enthused by the subject matter or it just won’t happen. I’m still drumming my fingers awaiting the day you put a book out there for us to read – I’ve only ever seen accomplished and enjoyable writing from you 🙂

Hiya Carrie. Yes it’s a desperately sad issue and one that is only growing. I want this book to not only be a (rather disturbing) story but to draw attention to some of the causes and how they might be addressed.

This is wonderful, Roy! It sounds like a story you need to rekindle. I’m glad you felt inspired again. Over the years I’ve found that my writing desires ebb and flow. I never worry about it anymore. The urge to write always comes back eventually.

Like an earlier commenter, I think that enthusiasms do come and go – for myself, I am using the planned plot for “Plank 6” as “Plank 5” because it appealed me at the time. So if you are moved to write this story now, that’s excellent news – I wish power to the pen!

Roy, it’s always a treat to see anything you write, even a blog post! Like others, I know what you mean about losing interest in things that have been a passion. Usually it’s just a matter of taking a break and then at some point inspiration hits and/or you realize that something really important is missing from your life – like writing … or running … or both! I had forgotten that you had been starting a writing project that revolved around human trafficking, but now that you’ve brought it back to the fore I remember you writing about this project before and thinking to myself, “How can he get himself into the head of a young woman who’s been a victim of human trafficking?” But one of the things that has blown me away with in all of your books is your ability to write effectively in the female voice. Your female characters are always impressively credible. So I will sit back and await the results of this re-energized and challenging project! Bonne chance, Roy!!

Ah, what kind words Jane. Yes, it’s a big challenge and I’ll be checking with one or two female writer-friends as I go, just so it doesn’t read as nonsense. You’re right though – I have way more empathy with female characters. Also, as a stay-at-home, I need to refresh my research and watch some YouTube to get a better feel of daily life in the Indian sub-continent.

Hello Letizia and thanks for your support. This weekend I must formulate a plan of attack – how to revise what I’ve written with the benefit of critique I’ve received, outlining the rest of the story etc. For example, I might cut back or eliminate the lessons on the money trail without which trafficking wouldn’t happen. Most would find that dreary though it’s uber important. Hope you’re well 🙂

Thanks Sue 🙂 I’ve just revised the very first chapter that you looked at nearly five years ago. I don’t know where the time goes. I must outline the story much better this time so I don’t paint myself into a corner. No doubt the m/s will be coming your way at some stage.

Roy, I’m glad to hear your writing again and that you’re keen to return to the piece from years ago that you gave me a bit to read. I find that sometimes it’s just not the right time for certain story ideas, but later – sometimes many years later – after we’ve lived a bit more and learned a bit more and have more time to think about what it is we’re actually trying to say, these shelved ideas can finally feel workable. I remember outlining my WIP on at least four separate occasions before I finally hit upon something I could work with. And my next work will be a much different version of the first novel I attempted more than 10 years ago. I wish you luck with this and look forward to hearing about your progress.

Hi Janna, I still have that critique and intend to use it when re-writing. Indeed the time feels right now to re-heat the story.

I had a couple of beers with a running buddy this evening. He has just returned from a remote Nepal village as leader of an Overseas Aid team. Immediately I see that some of my understanding of Nepalise life are either wrong, or out of date. For example, technology, electricity, smartphones etc have become much more common even in the remote areas. David Beckham is no longer the world’s most famous footballer 🙂 As you know, it’s unusual for me to do a rewrite but I’m enthused to do this one. Best wishes.

Yay Roy! So glad you’re getting bitten by the writing bug again. (And hopefully the blogging bug, too. I love reading your posts.) You’ve set yourself a challenge, writing 1st person in a female POV. An author I admire is Chris Bohjalian. Have you read any of his novels? (First known for The Midwife, now for many. HIs last book. The Sleepwalker, is written in a female POV. I used to resent men thinking they knew how a woman thought. Now I’m fine with it. We’re writers. We’re creatives. That’s what we’re supposed to do – go outside our box. In fact, in the current book I’m writing, the chapters are every other POV – 3rd person female POV, and then the 1st person MALE POV. Challenging for sure. But that’s the fun part, right? Keep at it, please!!

Thanks for the encouragement Pam 🙂 Yes, the challenge of standing in a young woman’s shoes – especially when she is physically violated – has got me enthused again. I’m heading straight over to check out The Sleepwalker.

It’s not my favorite Bohjalian book, but I realize that many of his books use a female POV, like The Sandcastle Girls and The Guest Room. In many of these books, his chapters go back and forth between a male POV and a female one. The Guest Room deals with human (sex) trafficking and is difficult and yet easy to read. And he does a good job of seeing the world from the victim’s POV.

Hiya Britt 🙂 and thanks for the encouragement. After everyone’s kind words I don’t dare abandon this project again. But neither am I going to rush it as I’ve done with books in the past. Getting it right is the main aim this time. Sounds like you’ve taken the same approach. Best wishes.